760211MW.MAY

Hrdayananda: ...there are more, probably at least a hundred thousand, and at least, maybe three hundred thousand, their home was destroyed. Small country, just...

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Hrdayananda: In my zone there are many countries that are always being hit by earthquakes, tidal waves, floods, repeatedly.

Prabhupada: Yes. So, what is to be done?

Hrdayananda: We'll go afterwards and preach there.

Prabhupada: Eh?

Hrdayananda: We will go afterwards and preach there. There is another country right next to it...

Prabhupada: Tell them that if you take to Hare Krsna, then these things will not happen. Tell them.

Hrdayananda: Yes. In Caracas, where you visited, about less then ten years ago there was a big earthquake and many big skyscrapers fell into the earth, completely disappeared.

Prabhupada: Oh?

Hrdayananda: The whole skyscraper just fell into the earth, gone. That was in Caracas. They said that after that people became more pious. During the earthquake they were screaming to God, "Have mercy, have mercy."

Prabhupada: Yes.

Hrdayananda: Another country, Nicaragua, just a few years ago there was a big earthquake, and the capital city was entirely destroyed. It was all gone, the entire capital.

Tamala Krsna: I have experience of an earthquake, Prabhupada.

Prabhupada: Hmm.

Tamala Krsna: I was in one in Mexico. And I was... It was at night. When the earthquake happened I was completely thrown right out of my bed.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Tamala Krsna: I was thrown right out of the bed by the earthquake. It shook the building so much, the whole building shook, that I was thrown right out of the bed. Fortunately, that building I was in, it only sagged, but other buildings completely collapsed. The building was left slanting, though. We had to all evacuate the building.

Hrdayananda: So it reminds us of the Krsna book, because in Caracas, when there was an earthquake, the whole sky became dark, and there were great roaring sounds in the sky.

Prabhupada: When?

Hrdayananda: In Caracas. Great roaring sounds, and the sky became dark, no one could see, and then everything began to...

Prabhupada: When it was?

Hrdayananda: Less than ten years ago.

Prabhupada: Oh.

Hrdayananda: Eight years ago, perhaps. My zone is very well known for that. Many times they have these disasters, and thousands of people are killed.

Prabhupada: So you can stop these things by chanting Hare Krsna.

Hrdayananda: When the capital was destroyed, the president of the country... He is named Samosa.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Hrdayananda: This country's president's name is Mr. Samosa.

Prabhupada: Samosa?

Hrdayananda: Samosa.

Prabhupada: What is that samosa? Our samosa?

Hrdayananda: [laughter] No. [break] ...two British planes came with medicine, and they wouldn't let the planes land because they have some diplomatic quarrel with England. So they preferred their own people die to save the diplomatic purpose. Also another country sent supplies to help, and they said that it was stolen. They don't know where it went.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Hrdayananda: Another plane from another country came, and when they delivered all their supplies they said that everything was stolen. They don't know where it went.

Prabhupada: Stolen?

Hrdayananda: Yes. The medicine was all stolen. Also, the government was making many people work hard due to the disaster, and when the people...

Prabhupada: So they are suffering from disaster. Again work hard. Just see how benefit.

Hrdayananda: Yes. And when the people said to the government, "You should pay us," they said, "No, we cannot pay you, and if you don't work, we will cut off your food."

Prabhupada: This is Kali-yuga. Durbhiksa-karapidita. One side, government disturbance, one side, no food, and they let them live very happily. That's all. This is their conception of happiness. Tactation..., taxation, and no food, and natural disturbance. [break]

Hrdayananda: ...country in my zone. Many times big tidal waves come and many, many towns are simply carried away into the ocean and destroyed. Thousands of people... Every so many years gigantic waves come, and thousands of people are killed and many towns are destroyed. [break]

Prabhupada: Observe. You have got any Panjika [almanac]?

Jayapataka: Yes. Just now bringing.

Prabhupada: Yes. So there is mention what to do. [break]

Jayapataka: Bhaumi ekadasi or Varahadever, avirbhava-janita upavasa. [fasting for Bhaumi ekadasi and Lord Varahadeva'a appearence.] For today.

Prabhupada: Today. Today.

Jayapataka: Budhabara, yes.

Prabhupada: Both together, upavasa.

Jayapataka: Yes.

Prabhupada: Then, next day?

Jayapataka: The next day it says, dina atta pancasa gate dasta madhye se varahadevera arcanante bhaumi ekadasira o varaha-dvadasira parana. [Breaking fast for Bhaumi ekadasi and Varaha-dvadasi after worshiping Lord Varahadeva between 8:50 AM to 10:00 AM.]

Prabhupada: So today, ekadasi as usual, the Varaha-dvadasi will be also observed, and tomorrow break fast.

Tamala Krsna: Break fast. Fast? No.

Prabhupada: Hmm?

Tamala Krsna: Fasting tomorrow or...

Prabhupada: No.

Tamala Krsna: Regular...

Prabhupada: Simply worshiping Varahadeva. Kesava dhrta-varaha-rupa, jaya jagadisa hare [Sri Dasavatara Stotra 3]. Then you can...

Jayapataka: Between 8:50 and 10:00 we should break the fast.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: Is that called parayana?

Prabhupada: Eh? Parayana.

Hrdayananda: There's a very famous lecture you gave, Srila Prabhupada, one day on a Varaha-dvadasi, where you sang Jaya Jagadisa and then you explained it. A very wonderful lecture.

Jayapataka: And the day after is Nityananda's avirbhava. [appearance of Lord Nityananda]

Prabhupada: Oh, then half-day fasting.

Tamala Krsna: Wow.

Hrdayananda: Auspicious alignment. [break]

Tamala Krsna: ...on your appearance day and Bhaktisiddhanta Sarasvati's and Bhaktivinoda Thakura and Gaura Kisora's we should observe half-day fast. I have a question that on all the other auspicious days, just like Narottama dasa Thakura and others, should we also observe half-day fast?

Prabhupada: It is. But if you cannot, that is another...

Tamala Krsna: Sometimes, because of the saṅkirtana...

Prabhupada: No, no. If you cannot, you can take.

Tamala Krsna: And just sing some songs and praise.

Prabhupada: Yes. Yes. Kirtana is main thing.

Tamala Krsna: And if possible, then the fasting.

Prabhupada: Yes.

Tamala Krsna: I see. [break] ...is up till sun..., er, moonrise?

Prabhupada: Up till sunset. Lord Ramacandra.

Tamala Krsna: Also. And Srimati Radharani?

Prabhupada: Half.

Tamala Krsna: Half day. [break]

Prabhupada: Oh, yes.

Tamala Krsna: What kind of fast is that?

Prabhupada: Balarama? Half day. It is fifteen days before Janmastami.

Tamala Krsna: We should always chant twenty-five rounds on ekadasi if initiated.

Prabhupada: Initiated? Everyone. Why initiated?

Tamala Krsna: So that should be standard for our movement on ekadasi day?

Prabhupada: Standard is sixteen, but if one can chant more, then he is welcome.

Tamala Krsna: It's not mandatory for ekadasi.

Jayapataka: Recommended.

Prabhupada: No. Ekadasi means that-fasting and chanting.

Tamala Krsna: Sometimes I'm wondering, because our men have to go out on book distribution.

Prabhupada: No, no. That is also preaching work. For that purpose you can stop this. But generally, one who has no preaching work, he can chant.

Tamala Krsna: Extra.

Prabhupada: Extra.

Tamala Krsna: I see. [end]